Obituaries by LocationHELEN M. BAUER
Services were held for Helen M. (Dilliplaine) Bauer, widow of Harry C. Bauer, of Parkerford, and formerly of Spring City, who died June 16 in Pottstown Memorial Medical Center, Pottstown. Born in Boyertown, she lived in the Spring City area for most of her life before moving to Parkerford 10 years go. She was educated in Boyertown Schools. Bauer was employed as a machine operator for more than 23 years at the former Sircon Knitting Mill, Spring City, before retiring in 1970. She enjoyed sewing and crochet. She is survived by a son, RobertL. Bauer, Pottstown; two daughters, Jean B. (Wisneski) of Spring City, and Greta B., wife of Harold Kulp, Spring City; a sister; 14 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren. In addition to her husband and parents, she was predeceased by a daughter, T. Arlene Slifer, in 1992. Memorial contributions may be made in her name to the charity of one’s choice. The arrangements were handled by the Cattermole-Klotzbach Funeral Home, Washington St., Royersford.
ELI OLIVER BERKEY
·Services were held for Eli Oliver Berkey, 17, of Englesville Road, Boyertown, who died June 14 at Reading Hospital and Medical Center, West Reading. Born in Reading, he was a son of Ray Oliver and Jill M. Herb. Berkey was employed as a clerk by National Auto, Gilbertsville, last working in November 1999. He attended Boyertown Area Senior High School, where he was in the gifted program, through 10th grade. He recently earned his GED and won several awards for his art. Berkey was an original member of the "Coffee Shop" Club, a chaperoned social organization for youths under 21. He earned the top student award in his 6th grade D.A.R.E. Program. He attended New Life Bible Fellowship, Oley. In addition to his parents, he is survived by a brother, Michael W. A. Geisinger of Hamburg; a stepfather, Thomas I. Lorah, with whom he resided in Boyertown; a maternal grandfather, Arthur Herb of Boyertown; and a paternal grandmother, Elizabeth A. (Millard) Hammel, Pottstown. He was predeceased by a paternal grandfather, Walter H. Berkey; a maternal grandmother, Eleanor E. (Brynan) Herb; and a paternal step-grandfather, Horace Hammel. The arrangements were handled by the Linwood W. Ott Funeral Home, Boyertown.
VIOLET A. FAUST
Services will be held Thursday for Violet A. (Clemmens) Faust, 76, widow of George T. Faust Jr., of Boyertown, who died June 18 at Mifflin Health Care, Berks County. Born in Schwenksville, she was employed as a machine operator for Lass Associates, Pottstown, until her retirement. She is survived by three sons, Arnold Faust of Frederick, Eddie Faust of Boyertown and Ricky Faust; three daughters, Joyce, wife of Steve Sites, of Hereford, Hattie, wife of Stanley Yoder, of Frederick, and Jannette of Barto. Also a brother, Leroy Heimbach of Leesport; three sisters, Erma Grebe and Bess Faust of Boyertown, and Janet Warner of Gilbertsville; 18 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by a daughter, Kathryn Mary Faust. Services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at the Good Shepherd Chapel of the Limerick Garden of Memories, 44 Swamp Pike, Limerick. Rev. Kenneth Ensminger will officiate. Friends may call after noon Thursday at the chapel. Memorial donations may be made to Berks County Home Health Care and Hospice, 2615 Perkiomen Avenue, Reading, PA 19606. Interment will be in Limerick Garden of Memories. The arrangements were handled by the Ruggiero Funeral Home, Trappe.
ROSIE A. KAHLER
A memorial service will be held for Rosie A. (Masemore) Kahler, 75, wife of Lawrence E. "Pitts" Kahler, of Church Hill Road, Hereford, who died June 19 at Palmerton Hospital, Palmerton, where she had been a patient. Born in Barto, she was a salesperson with the former Dutch Maid, in Ephrata, for 20 years before retiring. She was a member of Calvary United Church of Christ, Barto. Kahler was a member of the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary, Perkiomen Post #184. In addition to her husband of 50 years, she is survived by one son, Randy A. Kahler, of Northampton, Northampton County. Also one brother, Clyde Masemore, of Barto; and two grandchildren. The memorial service will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the Linwood W. Ott Funeral Home Inc., 111 N. Reading Ave., Boyertown. The Rev. Homer Royer Jr. will officiate. Friends will be received from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to the Calvary United Church of Christ Memorial Fund, 1231 Route 100, Barto, PA 19504. Burial will be in Christ Union Cemetery , Niantic.
DAVID S. BOYER
Services will be held for David S. Boyer, 88, formerly of New Berlinville, who died June 10 in the emergency room of Pottstown Medical Center. He was stricken in his residence at the Frederick Mennonite Community, Montgomery County. His wife, Anna M. (Eshbach) Boyer, died in 1996. Born in Colebrookdale Township, he was employed for 40 years as a knitter and fixer by Brown Century, Pottstown, and was last employed, for eight years, by Spring City Knitting, retiring in 1981. He was a member of St. Andrew United Methodist Church, New Berlinville. In 1980, he received the Boy Scouts of America God and Service Award. Surviving are a son, Leverne E., and a daughter, Janice E. (Boyer) Hull, both of Bechtelsville. Other survivors include five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by a son, Gerald E. Boyer. Services will be Thursday at 1 p.m. in St. Andrew UM Church. Burial will be in Forest Hills Memorial Park, Reiffton. The arrangements were handled by the L. W. Ott Funeral Home Inc., Boyertown.
ELIZABETH HOLMES
Services were held for Elizabeth L. (Ellis) Holmes, 69, wife of Walter M. Holmes of Indian Lane, Colebrookdale, who died June 5 at her residence. Born in Pottstown, she was a telephone operator for the former Ellis Answering Service of Pottstown, retiring in 1968. Previously she worked at Bell of PA of Pottstown, The Mercury in Pottstown, and Melrath Casket and Supply Co., Philadelphia, as a telephone operator. Holmes was a 1948 graduate of Pottstown High School. She was a member of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Boyertown. In addition to her husband, surviving are two sons, Michael Holmes of Mohnton, and Douglass Holmes of Birdsboro; five daughters, Patricia, wife of Robert Ellis, Sinking Spring; Karen, wife of Albert Slaughter of Boyertown; Debra Holmes of St. Louise, Mo.; Bonnie Holmes of Lancaster and Kathryn Holmes of Gaithersburg, Md. Also a brother and nine grandchildren. She was predeceased by a daughter, Deborah Archambault in 1989. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 498 Bellevue Ave., Reading, PA 19605. The arrangements were handled by the Linwood W. Ott Funeral Home, Boyertown.
LUTHER G. EPLER
Graveside services were held for Luther G. Epler, 85, of 3088 Pricetown Road, Alsace Township, formerly of Kempton, who died June 6 in ManorCare Health Services, where he had resided since May. Born in Reading, Epler was a self-employed jewelry maker from his residence for many years, retiring in 1988. He was a member of Jerusalem (Red) Union Church, Kempton. Surviving are three sisters: Verna C. (Epler) Resch, with whom he last resided; Elsie F. (Epler) Whitehead, Temple; and Evelyn E. (Epler) Hollinger, Auburn, Schuylkill County. The Walter R. Christ Funeral Home Inc., Laureldale, was in charge of the arrangements.
BARBARA K. KOEHLER
Private burial was held for Barbara K. "Babs" Koehler, 71, widow of Joseph G. Koehler, of Acorn Drive, Bechtelsville, who died June 8 in St. Luke’s Quakertown Hospital, Quakertown. Born in West Rockhill Township, she was a 1951 graduate of Millersville University, where she received a bachelor of science degree in education, and in 1975 she received a master’s degree in education from Beaver College. She was employed as a secondary education math teacher for Upper Moreland School District for more than 30 years, and retired in 1990. Koehler was a member of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Sassamansville, and was a former member of Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Abington. She served on the council and as president of the LCW at both churches. She was a former member of the Boyertown Area Community Housing board. She is survived by a son, Joseph F., of Boyertown; one daughter, Barbara, wife of Dana Baker, Quakertown; and four grandchildren. Memorial donations may be made to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 1809 Hoffmansville Road, Sassamansville, PA 19472, or to the Boy Scouts of America, Hawk Mt. Council, 4901 Pottsville Pike, Reading, PA 19605. The arrangements were handled by the Jeffrey A. Naugle funeral Home, Quakertown.
ETHEL GAUGLER
Services were held for Ethel V. (Schoenly) Gaugler, 82, widow of Raymond V. Gaugler, of New Hanover, who died June 10 in her residence. Born in Frederick, she was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Sassamansville. She is survived by three daughters, Dawn E., wife of Larry Hydock, Gilbertsville, Diane J. Dolansky, companion of Joseph McClinchey, Gilbertsville, and Debbie R. Gaugler, New Hanover. Also two brothers, Willard Schoenly, Emmaus, and Paul Schoenly, Perkiomenville. Also three sisters, Alice Lucarelli, Boyertown, Nancy, wife of Samuel Christy, Harleysville, and Margie, wife of Paul Akins, Gilbertsville; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. In addition to her husband and parents, she was predeceased by a son, Donald Kulp. Memorial donations may be made to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, "Shares of Faith," 1809 Hoffmansville Road, Sassamansville, PA 19472. The arrangements were handled by the Schumacher & Benner Funeral Home, Pottstown.
THELMA D. HARRIS
Services were held for Thelma D. Harris, 85, of Raymond St., Hyde Park, who died June 10 in Reading Hospital, where he had been a patient. Her husband, Frank T. Harris, died in 1987. Born in Alsace Township, she was employed for 12 years as a sewing machine operator for Temple Full Fashion Hosiery. She then worked for Letisse Handbag Co. and for five years for Talbot Knitting Mill, both in Reading, retiring in 1976. She is survived by a daughter, Dolores E. (Harris) Carswell, Sinking Spring, and a stepson, Frank E. Harris, Laureldale. Other survivors include a brother; two grandchildren; 2 step-grandchildren; three great-grandchildren and two step-great-grandchildren. The arrangements were handled by the Milkins Funeral Home Inc., Temple.
